Green Cobra Female Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Green Cobra Female Guppy is the trade name used here for a female domestic Poecilia reticulata with an expected green and dark reticulated, snakeskin-style pattern. Females are usually deeper-bodied and less intensely coloured than males, but a patterned tail and body sheen can still make this form distinctive in a planted livebearer aquarium. Colour, pattern, fin shape and body condition vary naturally between live fish, so no two individuals should be expected to look identical.

This listing supplies one female fish per selected quantity, at an approximate dispatch size of 3-4 cm. It is not a pair, trio, breeding pack or guaranteed gravid fish. The product name identifies the supplied sex as female, but it does not certify a virgin fish, a fixed genetic line, a collection locality or an exact adult appearance. Current price and availability belong to the live selector rather than this description.

Guppies need company and stable, mineral-rich water. OATA recommends at least three guppies and, where males and females are mixed, at least two females for each male to reduce persistent attention. A mature, filtered aquarium of at least 45 litres is OATA's starting point for a small group; Tropical Fish Co recommends around 60 litres or more where space allows because the added water and swimming length make temperature, waste and future fry easier to manage.

The gallery includes a restored photograph associated with the earlier exact-title Green Cobra Female Guppy record and a protected representative aquarium image. Neither picture shows the exact fish that will be dispatched. Use the images to understand the expected female body form and trade pattern, while allowing for live variation in green intensity, black markings, tail coverage, size and condition.

What is a Green Cobra Female Guppy?

The species is the guppy, Poecilia reticulata. FishBase places it in the livebearer family Poeciliidae and records the species from north-eastern South America, including Trinidad, Venezuela, the Guyanas, Barbados and northern Brazil. Aquarium guppies have been selectively bred into many domestic colour and fin forms, so a retail pattern name describes an expected look rather than a separate wild species.

`Cobra` and `snakeskin` are trade terms used for linked dark markings that can run through the body, tail or both. `Green` describes the dominant expected sheen or tail colour under suitable lighting. It does not mean every scale will be bright green, and a newly transported female may look pale before settling. Females often show a more restrained pattern than male show guppies because the sexes differ in body form and ornamentation.

The listing makes no pedigree or locality claim. It does not state that the fish is wild caught, home bred, imported from a named breeder or genetically tested. The careful identity is therefore: one female domestic Poecilia reticulata in the Green Cobra trade pattern. That is precise enough for care and shopping without inventing ancestry.

Part of the name	What it tells you	What it does not prove
Guppy	The species is Poecilia reticulata	It is not an Endler, molly or platy
Female	The product is supplied as a female fish	Virgin status, pregnancy status or previous mating history
Green	An expected green sheen or patterned colour emphasis	One fixed shade under every aquarium light
Cobra	A reticulated or snakeskin-style domestic pattern	A certified pedigree, breeder line or wild locality
3-4 cm	An approximate dispatch-size band	Exact measured length, age or final adult size

What does one quantity include?

Each quantity adds one female guppy. Quantity two means two separate females, quantity three means three separate females, and so on. A multi-buy or group discount shown by the live selector changes the order value; it does not turn one quantity into a pack. The visible selector is the only customer sale-unit control.

The stated 3-4 cm size is approximate. Fish move while being assessed, and body length can sit near either end of the band. Size does not certify age or reproductive history. Prepare for an adult female rather than treating a delivery-size fish as a permanent nano fish. FishBase records females to about 6 cm standard length, measured without the full tail.

This is a colour-form listing, not an exact-fish reservation. The dispatched female may differ from the gallery in the amount of green, the position of dark markings, tail shape, body depth and gravid appearance. Those differences are normal in live domestic guppies and are not evidence that the customer received a different species.

Choice or statement	Meaning	Not included or guaranteed
Quantity one	One female Green Cobra trade-pattern guppy	Not one pair or one trio
Quantity three	Three individual female fish	Not three identical sisters or a guaranteed breeding group
Approx. 3-4 cm	Expected dispatch-size band	Exact millimetre measurement or adult limit
Female	Product sex designation	Virgin, non-gravid or never previously housed with males
Green Cobra	Expected domestic pattern	Identical colour or certified genetic lineage

What should this female guppy look like?

A female guppy normally has a deeper, fuller body than a male and a fan-shaped anal fin rather than the male's narrow gonopodium. In Green Cobra stock, the caudal fin may carry green, yellow-green and dark patterning, while the body can show a subtler network or metallic sheen. The contrast is often strongest after the fish has settled, fed and recovered from transport.

Pattern strength is affected by genetics, maturity, condition, social environment, background and light. A female under a cool blue aquarium lamp can look different from the same fish under neutral daylight. Dark substrate and green plants often improve visual contrast without changing the fish itself. Avoid colour-enhancing claims that imply food or lighting can rewrite genetics.

A dark area near the rear abdomen can be a normal gravid spot, especially in a mature female. Body fullness can also vary with feeding and reproductive stage. A swollen abdomen alone does not prove pregnancy or disease. Normal swimming, appetite, smooth scales, steady breathing and open fins provide better context than one shape viewed in isolation.

Feature	Expected female presentation	Reason for variation
Body shape	Deeper and fuller than a typical male	Age, feeding, genetics and reproductive stage
Anal fin	Fan-shaped rather than a gonopodium	Young fish can be harder to assess at a glance
Tail	Green and dark patterned coverage may be visible	Line, maturity, condition and individual genetics
Body colour	Grey, silver, olive or green sheen with darker pattern	Lighting, background, stress and settling time
Rear abdominal mark	A gravid spot may be visible	Reproductive maturity and skin transparency

Are the product images the exact fish?

No. The restored lead photograph is associated with the earlier exact-title Green Cobra Female Guppy record and shows a representative female with a strong green and black patterned tail. It is useful for recognising the trade form, but livestock is not individually photographed and reserved. The fish sent may show a lighter body, a smaller tail or a different balance of pattern.

The second image is a protected representative aquarium scene created during an earlier catalogue recovery phase. The gallery image's role is illustrative, not documentary: it cannot prove sex, age, lineage, exact markings, sale quantity or the appearance of the fish that will be packed.

The body openly states their limits. This is more useful than promising `the exact fish pictured`, and it prevents a highly polished representative image from being mistaken for a guarantee.

Where do guppies come from?

FishBase records wild Poecilia reticulata from Trinidad, Venezuela, Barbados, northern Brazil and the Guyanas. The species occupies varied habitats, from vegetated channels and small streams to ponds, springs and ditches. Guppies have also been introduced widely outside their natural range, sometimes with negative effects on native ecosystems.

Domestic Green Cobra guppies are aquarium strains, not a separate wild population from a place called Green Cobra. Their exact breeding origin is not documented by this listing. It would therefore be misleading to describe the fish as a South American lineage or to claim a particular country of captive breeding.

The useful habitat lesson is functional rather than decorative: guppies benefit from warm stable water, plant cover, calm areas, feeding opportunities and room to move as a group. A home aquarium does not need to imitate one river photograph, but it should provide shelter and biological stability instead of a bare, newly filled container.

Never release guppies, fry, aquarium water, plants or substrate into a pond or watercourse. OATA warns that released aquarium organisms can harm native habitats, and many released fish die slowly because local conditions do not meet their needs. Rehome surplus fish through responsible aquarium channels.

How many guppies should be kept together?

OATA advises keeping at least three guppies because they require companionship. FishBase gives a group recommendation of five or more. For a female-only display, a group of at least three is a sensible minimum, while five or six often produces a more natural spread of movement when the aquarium has enough space and filtration.

For mixed sexes, OATA recommends at least two females for each male. Male guppies display and pursue females frequently, so a one-to-one ratio can concentrate pressure on one female. More females do not compensate for a cramped tank: the aquarium must still provide planting, swimming room, water stability and a plan for fry.

A single female may survive physically, but solitary housing removes normal social choice and is not the recommended ordinary plan. Buying several fish at once also increases biological load, so add livestock only to a fully cycled aquarium and confirm the filter can process the additional waste.

Group plan	Recommended approach	Main consideration
Female-only group	At least three; five or more where space allows	Prepare for possible stored-sperm broods
Mixed-sex group	At least two females per male	Reduces concentrated male pursuit but does not stop breeding
One female alone	Not the preferred long-term plan	Guppies need companionship
Six or more females	Suitable in a larger mature aquarium	Match filtration, space and maintenance to the whole group
New fry retained	Increase space or arrange responsible rehoming	Population can rise quickly

What size aquarium does a female guppy group need?

OATA recommends at least 45 litres for a small group of the smaller livebearer species. FishBase gives a minimum aquarium length of 60 cm for guppies. Tropical Fish Co treats those as planning floors, not stocking targets. Around 60 litres or more gives a small group better swimming length and gives the keeper more time to notice and correct changes in water quality.

Choose the adult group before choosing the tank. Five or six females, a mixed-sex colony, tank mates and retained fry all require more capacity than three adults. A long rectangular aquarium provides more usable swimming room and planting zones than a tall narrow vessel with the same nominal volume.

A bowl or tiny unfiltered container is unsuitable. Guppies produce continuous waste, need heat stability and benefit from a mature filter. A small volume changes temperature and chemistry quickly, especially after overfeeding. The fact that a 3-4 cm fish fits physically does not mean the environment meets its behavioural or biological needs.

Planned stock	Starting point	When to provide more
Three female guppies	At least 45 litres and about 60 cm length	More volume improves stability and furnishing options
Five or six females	Around 60 litres or more	Increase for larger adults, strong flow zones or retained fry
Mixed-sex group	60 litres or more is a practical base	Allow additional room for repeated broods
Community aquarium	Size for every adult species and its social group	Temperature overlap alone is not enough
Bowl or unfiltered vase	Unsuitable	Cannot provide stable heat, filtration and social space

How should the aquarium be arranged?

Use a mature filter, reliable heater and secure lid. OATA recommends gravel or sand with live plants where possible. If live plants are not practical, use smooth artificial plants and ornaments without sharp edges. Keep planted cover around the sides and rear while preserving open swimming room through the middle and upper levels.

Floating plants and fine-leaved stems give females places to pause and provide refuge for fry. Do not cover the entire surface or create stagnant areas. Guppies appreciate a gentle current rather than being pushed continuously by a concentrated filter jet. Diffuse the return and watch whether the fish can hold position without constant effort.

Moderate lighting on a consistent day-night schedule is enough. The aquarium should not stand in direct sun, beside a radiator, in a cold draught or next to persistent vibration. A dark background can make the green and black pattern easier to see while giving the fish a less exposed boundary.

Use the water matcher to compare broad water preferences before choosing companions, then verify each species page. For the aquarium's usable volume, the tank volume calculator is more reliable than estimating from a shop label.

Feature	Useful choice	Avoid
Filter	Mature biological filtration with gentle flow	Uncycled media or a jet that pins fish to one side
Heater	Thermostatic and protected from direct contact	Daily room-temperature swings
Plants	Dense margins, fine leaves and some floating cover	Sharp plastic or a surface sealed by plant growth
Swimming area	Open middle and upper route	Decor filling every usable space
Lighting	Moderate, timed day-night cycle	Continuous bright light or direct sun
Lid	Secure with safe cable gaps	Open top during feeding or maintenance

What water parameters should be maintained?

OATA's guppy guidance is 20-28°C, pH 7.0-8.0 and 8-18 dGH. FishBase reports a similar pH and hardness range. A stable 22-26°C is a practical everyday target for many guppy aquariums, provided the other livestock has overlapping needs. Avoid abrupt corrections simply to reach the middle of a printed range.

Ammonia and nitrite must remain at zero. OATA advises keeping nitrate no more than 20 mg/L above the normal level in the tap water used for changes. Because source water differs around the UK, test the tap and aquarium rather than copying a stranger's reading. A rising trend can reveal overfeeding, overcrowding or insufficient maintenance.

Guppies usually suit medium-hard to hard water. Do not add routine salt simply because the species tolerates some salinity. A normal freshwater setup should remain freshwater unless a qualified aquatic professional recommends a specific treatment. Salt does not replace minerals, cycling, filtration or water changes, and it may harm plants or tank mates.

Parameter	Target	What matters most
Temperature	20-28°C; often 22-26°C in routine care	Stability and adequate oxygen
pH	7.0-8.0	Avoid sudden chemical swings
General hardness	8-18 dGH	Mineral-rich water rather than very soft acidic conditions
Ammonia	0 mg/L	Any detected result needs immediate action
Nitrite	0 mg/L	Any detected result is unsafe
Nitrate	No more than 20 mg/L above normal tap level	Track the trend and source-water baseline

How should the aquarium be cycled and maintained?

Cycle the aquarium before ordering fish. A cycled filter contains microorganisms that convert toxic ammonia through nitrite into nitrate. Filling a tank and running the filter for a few days is not proof of a mature cycle. Confirm with test results and an established cycling method before adding the full group.

OATA strongly recommends a partial water change of about 25% at least weekly. Treat replacement tap water for chlorine or chloramine and bring it close to aquarium temperature. Siphon settled waste without stripping every surface clean. Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and hardness regularly, especially after adding fish.

Rinse filter media lightly in removed aquarium water when maintenance is required. Do not wash established biological media under untreated tap water, and do not replace all media at the same time. Check the outlet and intake for obstruction. A clear tank can still have unsafe dissolved waste, so appearance does not replace testing.

The aquarium cycle tracker can help organise readings, but the test kit remains the evidence. Keep a simple dated log for temperature, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, water changes and unusual behaviour. A baseline makes gradual deterioration easier to recognise.

Task	Routine	Reason
Water test	At least weekly and after important changes	Detects invisible waste and instability
Partial water change	About 25% weekly, adjusted to measured load	Controls nitrate and dissolved waste
Tap-water treatment	Every refill	Neutralises chlorine or chloramine
Filter check	Inspect flow and intake regularly	Maintains circulation and biological capacity
Media cleaning	Gently in removed aquarium water when needed	Preserves beneficial microorganisms
Record keeping	Log readings and behaviour	Shows trends before a crisis

What should a female guppy eat?

Guppies are omnivores. FishBase records zooplankton, small insects and detritus in the natural diet, while OATA recommends a quality flake or granule with a good plant component for aquarium care. Use a complete small-particle food as the base, then rotate suitably sized frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops or brine shrimp.

Feed only what the group can finish within a few minutes. OATA suggests one controlled daily feed. Some keepers divide the same sensible daily amount into two smaller feeds, which can help timid fish access food, but this must not become double the ration. Remove leftovers before they decay.

Distribute food across more than one point so a dominant fish cannot take everything. Watch each female eat. A fish that repeatedly misses food may be stressed, ill or displaced. Rich conditioning foods can increase reproductive activity and waste, so they should be part of a varied plan rather than the whole diet.

Do not feed bread, cheese, mammal meat or large hard particles. Avoid wild-collected live food from polluted or fish-bearing water because it can carry contaminants or pathogens. Use controlled aquarium food sources and clean equipment.

Food type	Role	Use
Quality flake or micro granule	Complete staple	Small amount eaten within a few minutes
Plant-rich or algae-containing food	Supports the omnivorous diet	Include within the regular rotation
Daphnia or cyclops	Small invertebrate variety	Frozen or controlled live source
Brine shrimp	Conditioning and fry-food option	Use appropriate size and portion
One frozen food only	Incomplete as a sole long-term diet	Rotate with a balanced prepared staple
Leftover food	Pollution risk	Remove rather than allowing it to decay

How do female guppies behave?

Healthy female guppies are active, curious livebearers that spend much of their time in the upper and middle levels. They investigate plants, follow feeding activity and maintain loose social contact rather than forming one rigid school. A group allows individuals to approach, withdraw and distribute attention.

Short chases can occur, particularly around food or when a hierarchy changes. Persistent pursuit, one fish excluded from feeding, clamped fins or constant hiding is not a harmless `pecking order`. Add sight breaks, check space and water, and separate a fish if it cannot eat or rest normally.

Male attention is more persistent than ordinary female-to-female contact. In mixed groups, maintain the recommended female-biased ratio and dense cover. Even with a good ratio, observe each fish. A ratio is a planning tool, not a guarantee that every individual will coexist.

Guppies learn feeding routines and may gather at the front when a person approaches. Begging does not prove hunger. Keep portions tied to body condition and water quality rather than responding to every display with extra food.

How can male and female guppies be distinguished?

Adult males are normally smaller, slimmer and more strongly ornamented. Their anal fin is modified into a narrow reproductive organ called a gonopodium. Adult females are generally larger and deeper-bodied, with a fan-shaped anal fin. Females can also show a gravid spot near the rear abdomen.

Young fish are harder to sex confidently because the relevant fins and body proportions are still developing. Pattern alone is not reliable: a colourful fish is not automatically male, and a plain fish is not automatically female. Examine anal-fin shape and overall maturity together.

This product is sold as female, but the description does not turn a representative picture into a sex certificate for the exact dispatched fish. Contact support promptly if the developing fish shows clear male characteristics after settling and maturing.

Feature	Female guppy	Male guppy
Adult body	Usually larger and deeper	Usually smaller and slimmer
Anal fin	Fan-shaped	Narrow gonopodium
Colour	Often more restrained, but domestic females can be patterned	Usually more intense and extensive
Gravid spot	May be visible near rear abdomen	Absent
Behaviour	Can be pursued by males	Often displays and pursues females

Can a female guppy arrive pregnant?

Yes. Guppies use internal fertilisation, and scientific research confirms that females can store sperm for prolonged periods. A female may therefore produce fry after being moved away from males. A customer building a female-only display should still plan for unexpected young and should not assume that isolation after purchase prevents all future broods.

A fuller abdomen and darker gravid area can suggest pregnancy, but they do not give an exact due date. Gestation and brood size vary with temperature, age, condition and previous mating. Avoid repeatedly netting or squeezing a female to inspect her. Stress can cause more harm than uncertainty.

Breeder boxes can restrict movement and create stress when used for long periods. Dense plants, stable water and a separate mature rearing setup are often more useful. If the aim is not to raise fry, decide in advance how any survivors will be responsibly rehomed. Never release them outdoors.

The product does not promise a pregnant fish, a virgin fish, a particular brood size or fry of a predictable colour. Stored sperm can also mean the sire is unknown, so offspring cannot be advertised honestly as a pure Green Cobra line without controlled breeding records.

How do guppies breed, and how should fry be managed?

Guppies are livebearers: the female gives birth to free-swimming young rather than laying an exposed clutch of eggs. OATA notes that breeding is very likely and gives a broad pregnancy period of about 24-30 days, while FishBase notes that later broods may follow stored sperm. These figures are guidance, not a delivery timetable.

Adult guppies and community fish may eat fry. Dense fine-leaved plants and floating cover increase survival. If fry are to be raised deliberately, use a mature filtered rearing aquarium with gentle flow, stable heat and frequent water checks. Feed appropriately tiny complete foods in controlled amounts and remove waste.

Population grows faster than many first-time keepers expect. Count the adults and surviving fry against the aquarium's future capacity, not today's visible load. Separate sexes as juveniles mature if breeding is not wanted, while remembering that females already exposed to males may continue to produce broods.

Selective breeding requires records, separate tanks and responsible placement of offspring. A trade colour name on the mother does not guarantee every fry will reproduce the same pattern. Do not describe offspring as a pure line unless parentage and breeding history are genuinely known.

Breeding question	Responsible answer
Will a female-only tank always stay fry-free?	No; previously mated females may use stored sperm
Will all fry look Green Cobra?	No appearance can be guaranteed without controlled parentage
Should a female stay in a small breeder box?	Avoid prolonged confinement; use a mature planted plan
Can adults eat fry?	Yes; dense cover improves survival
What if there are too many fry?	Arrange responsible rehoming before the aquarium is overcrowded

What fish can live with female guppies?

Choose peaceful species that share hard, alkaline-leaning water, similar temperature and a comparable activity level. Other guppies, many platies and some mollies can overlap in water requirements, but each species has its own adult size, group needs and waste load. The freshwater fish guide is a starting point, not a compatibility guarantee.

Avoid persistent fin nippers and fish large enough to swallow a guppy. Goldfish are not suitable companions because their temperature, growth and waste profile differ. Many soft-water specialists are also a poor long-term match even when the temperature overlaps. Never combine species based only on a search snippet.

Shrimp may coexist with adult guppies in a planted aquarium, but tiny shrimplets can be eaten. Guppy fry may also disappear in a community. Snails are often easier companions, provided the water and treatments suit them. Check every medication for invertebrate safety before dosing a shared tank.

Use the tank-mate tool to form a shortlist, then check adult size, water chemistry, group number, feeding speed and temperament individually. The linked Red Cap Female Guppy, Blue Neon Female Guppy and Cobra Red Female Guppy are related shopping choices, not proof that every combination will be free from chasing or breeding.

Potential companion	General fit	Check before combining
Other female guppies	Good social match	Space, filtration and possible fry
Male guppies	Possible in a female-biased group	At least two females per male and breeding plan
Peaceful platies	Often compatible	Total adult load and water hardness
Peaceful mollies	Possible in a larger hard-water tank	Mollies are larger and need more space
Fin-nipping barbs	Avoid	Fin damage and chronic stress
Large predatory fish	Avoid	Guppies may be eaten
Shrimp	Conditional	Small shrimplets may be prey
Goldfish	Avoid	Different temperature, size and waste needs

How does this fish compare with males, Endlers and other females?

A female Green Cobra guppy is usually larger-bodied and less intensely ornamented than a Green Cobra male. The female is useful where a keeper wants a female-biased mixed group or a female-only display, but her calmer appearance does not make her solitary. Compare broader care and currently available forms through the female guppy hub.

Endler's livebearer, Poecilia wingei, is a different species. OATA describes Endlers as smaller than traditional guppies. Search data often mixes female Endlers into guppy results, so do not substitute one identity for the other. The Endler's livebearer guide explains the separate species and its own care context.

Other female colour forms share species-level care but differ in expected appearance. The Yellow Female Guppy and Tiger Female Guppy are comparisons, not ingredients in a guaranteed breeding line. If colour inheritance matters, keep controlled records and do not mix strains casually.

For a broader overview of domestic variation, visit the guppy types guide. The page helps compare names and forms, while this product page remains the authority for this sale unit, current size band and image disclosure.

Fish	Species	Main distinction
Green Cobra female	Poecilia reticulata	Deeper female body with expected green/dark pattern
Green Cobra male	Poecilia reticulata	Usually smaller, slimmer and more intensely ornamented
Endler	Poecilia wingei	Different, generally smaller species
Yellow female guppy	Poecilia reticulata	Same species-level care, different expected colour form
Tiger female guppy	Poecilia reticulata	Same species-level care, different trade pattern

How should a new guppy be acclimated?

Prepare the aquarium before delivery: test the water, check temperature, reduce bright light and make sure the filter and heater are working. Read the current instructions supplied with the order because bag chemistry and journey conditions affect the safest method. Do not improvise a long acclimation while the fish remains in opened transport water.

OATA describes a floating-bag method: equalise temperature, then introduce small amounts of aquarium water over a limited period before releasing the fish while adding as little transport water as possible. Follow the retailer's current livestock instructions where they are more specific. Never leave a sealed bag in direct sun or unattended near a heater.

Keep the lights low after release and allow the group to settle. Do not chase the fish for an immediate photograph. Offer only a small meal once normal swimming resumes, and remove leftovers. Check breathing, balance, fins and social access several times during the first day.

The acclimation timer can help organise the process, but observation takes priority over a countdown. If the fish arrives compromised, follow the Live Arrival Guarantee instructions before opening or discarding packaging, because current evidence requirements and contact windows apply.

What are signs of health or distress?

A healthy settled guppy should swim with control, hold fins normally, breathe steadily, show interest in food and maintain an appropriate body profile. OATA lists clear eyes, intact scales, undamaged fins and normal swimming as useful signs. A transported fish may be temporarily pale or quiet, so judge recovery over time alongside water readings.

Warning signs include clamped fins, flicking against objects, shimmying, white spots, fluffy growth, ulcers, scale loss, rapid breathing, surface hanging, bottom sitting, loss of balance, reduced feeding or an unexplained change in body condition. These signs do not identify one disease by themselves.

Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and temperature before reaching for medication. Water-quality stress often resembles infection and can make any disease worse. Isolate affected fish in a suitable hospital aquarium where possible and seek advice from an aquatic veterinarian or experienced aquatic professional.

Do not mix medicines, guess doses or use routine antibiotics. Copper and some other treatments can harm shrimp and snails. Keep nets and siphons separate during quarantine, and wash hands before and after aquarium work without leaving soap residue.

Observation	First checks	Next step
Rapid breathing	Temperature, ammonia, nitrite, oxygen and gill condition	Correct environment and seek diagnosis
Shimmying or clamped fins	Hardness, temperature and waste readings	Stabilise water; do not medicate blindly
White spots or growth	Inspect all fish and verify water quality	Quarantine and obtain treatment advice
Full abdomen	Feeding, scales, swimming and gravid spot	Distinguish normal pregnancy from illness with context
Constant hiding	Chasing, flow, cover and water quality	Reduce stress or separate if access is blocked
Missed meals	Social pressure, mouth condition and food size	Observe closely and isolate if decline continues

What should UK buyers know before ordering?

Only order after the aquarium is cycled, heated and large enough for the intended adult group. Check the delivery address, postcode coverage and ability to receive the parcel promptly. Live animals should not wait unopened while the customer is away. The current delivery page explains dispatch, courier and contact arrangements.

Livestock is covered by Tropical Fish Co's Live Arrival Guarantee subject to the current published process and customer compliance. Read the policy before delivery, keep the parcel and bags until the fish are assessed, and collect any required unboxing evidence. This page does not replace or expand the policy.

WELCOME10 may provide 10% off an eligible first order, subject to the live code and checkout terms. Enter the code at checkout and confirm that it applies before paying. The written product description does not promise that a promotion will remain active forever or combine with every other offer.

For more shopping context, visit the buying live tropical fish online guide and the wider guppy hub. Those pages explain the broader service and range; the selector on this page remains the source for current stock and price.

Who is this female guppy suitable for?

This fish suits a keeper who has a mature medium-hard or hard-water aquarium, wants a social livebearer group and is prepared for possible fry. It can be approachable for a beginner who tests water and follows a maintenance routine. `Easy care` should never be read as `no care`.

It is not suitable for an uncycled first-day tank, a bowl, a solitary display, a soft acidic specialist setup or a community with known fin nippers and predators. It is also a poor choice for someone who cannot accommodate or rehome unexpected fry.

A female-only group can reduce male pursuit, but it cannot guarantee zero breeding because of stored sperm. A mixed group can show courtship and reproduction, but it requires the female-biased ratio, dense cover, additional capacity and observation. Choose the plan before choosing the quantity.

Green Cobra Female Guppy FAQs

Is this one fish or a pair?

It is one female fish per selected quantity. A group or multi-buy discount does not change the sale unit. Select quantity three to order three individual females; do not interpret quantity one as a pair, trio or bulk pack.

What size will the guppy be on arrival?

The expected dispatch band is approximately 3-4 cm. Live fish are not measured to the millimetre, so an individual may sit near either end. Prepare for an adult female of up to about 6 cm standard length rather than the delivery size alone.

Will she look exactly like the photographs?

No. The gallery shows a restored representative product photograph and a disclosed aquarium image. The dispatched fish may differ in green intensity, dark pattern, tail coverage, body depth and reproductive condition. Those variations are normal within domestic live stock.

Is the Green Cobra a separate species?

No. The species is Poecilia reticulata. Green Cobra is a domestic trade-pattern name describing expected colour and reticulated markings. It does not identify a separate wild species or prove a certified breeder lineage.

Can one female guppy live alone?

Solitary housing is not the recommended long-term plan. OATA advises at least three guppies, while FishBase gives a group recommendation of five or more. Keep a suitable group in a mature aquarium with enough space and filtration.

How many females should be kept with one male?

OATA recommends at least two females for each male. This spreads persistent courtship attention, but it does not prevent breeding and does not make a small tank suitable. Watch every fish and provide dense cover.

Can a female arrive pregnant?

Yes. Female guppies can store sperm and produce later broods after being separated from males. The listing cannot guarantee a virgin or non-gravid fish, nor can it guarantee a particular brood date, size or sire.

Will all her fry be Green Cobra?

No colour outcome can be guaranteed. The mother's trade pattern does not reveal the sire or prove controlled parentage. Stored sperm makes parentage especially uncertain. Treat offspring as mixed or unknown unless a documented breeding programme establishes otherwise.

What is the minimum aquarium size?

OATA recommends at least 45 litres for a small group of smaller livebearers, and FishBase gives a 60 cm minimum aquarium length for guppies. Around 60 litres or more is preferred for better stability and group space.

What temperature do guppies need?

OATA gives 20-28°C. A stable 22-26°C suits many routine guppy setups, but match every tank mate and avoid sudden changes. Use a reliable heater and thermometer rather than assuming room temperature remains constant.

What pH and hardness are suitable?

Aim for pH 7.0-8.0 and roughly 8-18 dGH, with stable mineral-rich water. Test both tap and aquarium water. Avoid rapid chemical corrections and avoid choosing soft-water specialist companions simply because their temperature overlaps.

Do guppies need aquarium salt?

Routine salt is not required for a normal freshwater guppy aquarium. Salt does not replace cycling, minerals, filtration or maintenance and may harm plants or tank mates. Use it only for a justified treatment under qualified advice.

What should a female guppy eat?

Use a complete small flake or granule with plant and animal-derived ingredients, then rotate small frozen or controlled live foods such as daphnia, cyclops or brine shrimp. Feed a controlled total amount and remove leftovers.

Are female guppies peaceful?

They are generally peaceful community livebearers, but short social chases can occur. Persistent exclusion, torn fins, clamping or missed meals needs action. Tank size, sight breaks, food distribution and the behaviour of companions all matter.

Can Green Cobra females live with Endlers?

Their care can overlap, but Endlers are a different species, Poecilia wingei. Mixing related livebearers can complicate breeding records and group dynamics. Check water, adult size, sex ratio and the purpose of the aquarium before combining them.

Can female guppies live with shrimp?

Adult shrimp may coexist in a mature planted tank, but guppies can eat tiny shrimplets. Provide dense cover and do not expect every young shrimp to survive. Check all medications for invertebrate safety.

How often should the water be changed?

OATA strongly recommends about a 25% partial change at least weekly, adjusted to measured stock and nitrate trend. Use conditioned, temperature-matched water and preserve mature filter media. Test rather than relying on a fixed calendar alone.

How long do guppies live?

OATA describes several years in a mature setup with good water quality. Lifespan varies with genetics, age at purchase, temperature, reproduction, nutrition and disease exposure. This listing does not promise one exact number for every fish.

What should I do if the fish arrives in poor condition?

Follow the current Live Arrival Guarantee instructions immediately. Keep the packaging, collect the required unboxing evidence and contact Tropical Fish Co within the published window. Do not discard the bag or delay contact while trying unverified treatments.

Can I use WELCOME10 on this fish?

WELCOME10 may give 10% off an eligible first order under the current checkout terms. Enter the code and confirm the discount before payment. Eligibility, combinations and future availability are controlled by the live promotion, not this care description.

Sources and further reading

This care profile separates accepted species evidence from Tropical Fish Co's transparent aquarium recommendations. Sources were checked during the manual review:

• FishBase: Poecilia reticulata species summary - accepted identity, range, size, habitat, water and reproductive notes.
• OATA: How to care for guppies and mollies - UK-facing water, group, aquarium, feeding, maintenance and welfare guidance.
• RSPCA: Keeping fish together - water, behaviour and species-compatibility considerations.
• Evolution: female sperm storage in Trinidadian guppies - research evidence for sperm storage across broods.
• PLoS One: ovarian fluid and sperm storage in guppies - primary research on internal fertilisation and sperm storage.

For shopping and care navigation, use the guppy guide and range, female guppy page, guppy varieties guide, delivery information and Live Arrival Guarantee policy. Internal links are for comparison and planning; they do not declare every linked fish compatible.